Monday, 20 November 2017

Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced
that the governorship election in Anambra state will hold on November 18, 2017, people
within and outside of the state entertained fears about security before and
during the election in the state. As the election drew closer, the apprehension
became palpable against the backdrop of threat of election boycott by the
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), large number of political contestants, huge
deployment of state security forces, and the history of godfather politics,
among other factors. The governorship election held as scheduled by INEC on November 18.

SUPPORT
FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION

Consistent with our
commitment to promoting public safety, security and justice in Nigeria, the
CLEEN Foundation has sustained active engagement with several critical stakeholders
to ensure that the November 18 governorship election was conducted in a secure
and peaceful atmosphere. CLEEN Foundation
observed the November 18 governorship election in Anambra state, with specific
focus on the security dimensions of the election. The mission was in
furtherance of other interventions earlier made by the organization to enhance
election security in the state. These include, among others, the deployment of
CLEEN Foundation and INEC Electoral Institute Election Violence Mitigation Tool
(EVMT), and the conduct and release of two field reports - Situation
Analysis of Security and Public Safety in Anambra State, Nigeria: Towards the
November 18, 2017 Governorship Election and Security Threat Assessment for the 2017 Governorship Election in
Anambra State. These interventions were geared
towards making positive impact on the election landscape in general and
electoral security management in particular.

FIELD
OBSERVATION OF THE NOVEMBER 18 ELECTION

CLEEN Foundation trained and deployed a total of 83
persons to observe the deployment and conduct of security agents during the
November 18 governorship election. Out of this number, 73 observers were
deployed across the 21 LGAs of the state. They had a standardised checklist
containing important questions about the deployment and conduct of security
agents during the election. In addition, there were six other roving observers,
whose activities covered the three Senatorial Districts. The field observers
provided real-time updates and reports on the election-day in the form of voice
calls, pictures and short message service (SMS) to a WhatsApp group,
#CLEENSituationRoom#, from their locations. A team of four other observers
operated the Call Centre, co-located with the Nigerian Civil Society Situation
Room. The information sharing among partner organisations in the Situation Room
also enabled CLEEN Foundation to cross-check its field observations.

SECURITY DEPLOYMENT FOR THE
ELECTION

Aware of the potential and real security threats to
the election, the various security agencies deployed robust plans
to ensure security, before, during and after the election. While the military
and the Department of State Services (DSS) did not make public the number of
their personnel deployed for the elections, the Police and the Nigerian
Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) announced plans for huge deployment of
their officers. The Police had announced that it will deploy 26,000 of its
personnel for the governorship election. It will also deploy Police helicopters
for surveillance and aerial patrol as well as three gunboats for patrol of the
waterways throughout the period of the election. Also, the NSCDC claimed it
deployed 14, 000 personnel to boost the number of personnel provided by other
security agencies for the governorship election.

OBSERVATIONS ON SECURITY AGENTS
AND ELECTION SECURITY

There were several observations regarding the poll in general and
security interventions more specifically. However, below are some of the key
observations that bordered on election security;

Military Operations: Observers reported that the military maintained
outposts on major routes of entrance and exit from the state. There were also
reports of proper conduct of the military stationed on the major roads and
locations in the state during the election. There was a reported case of arrest
of three persons suspected of carrying IPOB leaflets. The suspects were
arrested by the military at DNGS Roundabout, off Oguta Road, Onitsha North LGA.
Overall the conduct of the military during the election was commendable

Patrol by Security Agents: There were indications, and corroborated by observers, of sustained
visibility policing through ground, aerial and waterways patrol by security
agencies, especially the police. The Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) and the
NSCDC also maintained visible level of ground patrol. We also noted that the
Police had patrol teams that visited some polling units to ensure that voting
was going on smoothly. These patrols provided the needed sense of safety and
security during the election.

Deployment of Security Agents: Observers reported timely deployment of security agents to PUs, Wards,
collation centres and INEC offices across most of the LGAs visited. In relation to the time security agents arrived at the
polling units, the findings of the field observation showed that 18% of the
security agents arrived the polling units before 7:00am, while 36% arrived
between 7.00am - 7.59am. Those that arrived between 8.00am - 8.59am
constituted 22% of the security agents deployed to the polling unit, while 24%
of the security agents arrived their polling unit from 9:am and above. The late
arrival of some of the security agents to the polling unit were partly as a
result of logistics deficits and unfamiliarity with the language and terrain.
In addition the field observation showed that 3 or more security agents were
present at 80% of the polling units. This confirmed the large deployment of
security agents for the election. The result of the field observation showed
that more than half of the security agents arrived their polling units before
the commencement of accreditation and voting. However, there was delayed
deployment of over forty police personnel to their polling
units in Nzam, Anambra West LGA, etc, due to inadequate vehicles.

Conduct of Security Agents: Observers reported sufficient demonstration of neutrality and
impartiality by security agents across most polling units visited. The
security agents conducted themselves in civil and professional manner
in their dealings with the electorates. Regarding the conduct of security agents at the polling units, the findings of the field observation indicated that 38%
rated the conduct as being 'very impartial' while
40% rated their conduct as 'impartial'. However, 6% rated their conduct
'somewhat impartial' and 16% rated it 'not impartial'.

Inter-Agency Collaboration: Our observers noted discernible improvement in the level of
inter-agency collaboration among security agencies during the elections. The
Police, Civil Defence, FRSC and others were seen working together harmoniously
at the polling units, along the road and at the collation centres.

Security Incident Response: The timely identification and execution of proper response to acts or
events that are capable of disrupting or undermining the peaceful conduct of
polls is of crucial importance in elections security management. Observers
noted that security agents were quick to respond and resolve cases of dragging
of positions in voting queues, disagreements between party agents, and
complaints by voters. There was prompt response to distress calls, as was the
case in polling unit 005, Ward 3, Community Primary School, Amawbia in Awka
South LGA, where a man was arrested by the
DSS for trying to buy votes and was later released. A similar incident happened in polling unit 005, Ward 001, Ukpuwo,
Nnewi South LGA, where a woman with two voters cards was arrested by the Police for
attempting to vote in another polling unit having voted with one of the cards
in a nearby polling unit.

Protection of Election Integrity: Election security management is critical to the preservation of the
integrity of the election. The actions or inactions of security agents do have
consequences for the integrity of the election. Observers reported brazen cases
of vote buying and voter inducement, involving the major political parties, in
most of the polling units. These illegal acts took place often in the full
glare of security agent who appeared unable or unwilling to deter such
electoral offences. In most cases, security agents appeared uninterested in the
act. In some cases, they made feeble attempt to drive the party agents behind
the vote buying away from polling station. In few cases where they mustered
courage to arrest the suspects, they usually let them go following
interventions by community leaders or youth.

Welfare of Security
Agents: Reports from our observers indicated that there was
appreciable level of improvement in the welfare arrangement for the security
agents. However there was equally isolated cases of complain by some security
agents over the poor handling of their welfare, especially on their feeding,
accommodation and the allowances.

INEC Logistics Setbacks:There were indications of logistics setbacks such as
inadequate vehicles that contributed to delayed or late arrival of both
electoral materials and personnel (permanent and adhoc staff - especially
National Youth Service Corp Members). Observers equally reported cases of both
temporary and complete failure of the Card Reader Machines (CRMs) in some
polling units. It is noteworthy that in some cases, INEC technical team
responded swiftly to rectify the problem. However at Community Primary School
Ohita Ogbaru LGA, the CRM failed to work due to network failure, leading to
protests by voters at the polling unit. Such incident could trigger electoral
violence if poorly managed.

RECOMMENDATION

In view of the above, we recommend the following:

§The
security agencies should continue to evolve and fine-tune 'right-sized'
deployment of its agents to improve elections security.

§The
Media and civil society organisations should deepen public enlightenment on the
dangers of vote trading on the credibility of elections and prospect of good
governance.

§Security agents and presiding
officers should show more commitment in curbing vote trading and voter inducement at the polling
unit.

§The
level of inter-agency collaboration observed in the election should be
sustained and improved upon in future elections.

§The
National Orientation Agency and civil society organisations should intensify
the sensitisation of the citizens on the need to support security agents in the
arrest and prosecution of electoral offenders.

§The
security agencies should make adequate logistics arrangements for the feeding
and accommodation of the personnel on election duty, including ensuring prompt
payment of their allowances.

§The
INEC should commit more technical resources to improving the functionality and
reliability of the CRMs.

CONCLUSION

As
widely anticipated, the governorship election in Anambra State held under
tight-security with minimal security breaches. This was largely in line with
the conclusion of CLEEN Foundation's Security Threat Assessment for the 2017. Overall,
the conduct of security agents during the elections is commendable, especially
in the discharge
of their duties at the patrol bits, polling units, and collation centres.
Overall, the findings of the field observation indicated that 56% rated the performance of security agents in the Anambra
election 'very good' while 26% rated it 'good. However, 4% rated their
performance 'fair' and another 4% rated it
'poor'. Notwithstanding, there were multiple
reports of vote trading especially at the polling units, in the presence of
security agents. There were also concerns about logistics and welfare of
security agents which impacted on their ability to perform maximally in
furtherance of the objective of election security.

Sunday, 19 November 2017

The CLEEN Foundation (formerly known as
Centre for Law Enforcement Education) is a non-governmental organization
established in January 1998 with the mission of promoting public safety,
security, and accessible justice through empirical research, legislative
advocacy, demonstration programs and publications, in partnership with
government and civil society.

Background Brief

CLEEN Foundation will
be twenty (20) years by 2018 and in order to reposition and rebrand itself, a number
of institutional reforms and strengthening are being undertaken. We believe
that these actions will reposition the organisation to continue to provide the
lead in the area of public safety, security and accessible justice in Nigeria. The
action among others, will involve organization audit, trainings in strategic
areas of programming, management, governance and gender based violence; restructuring
of the three offices of CLEEN in Abuja, Lagos and Owerri; review of internal
policies and processes as well as development of a new strategy and sustainability
framework.

Consequently, Expression of Interest (EOI)
is hereby invited from suitably qualified Consultants and Service Providers in
the following areas:

üIdentification of
institutional strengthening priorities for investment in subsequent years
over the medium-term, approximately 2018-2022

üReview of the current
strategic plan (2014 -2018)

Lot 2

Organisational Policies Review, Update and Development

üDevelopment of
Financial, Programme, Human Resources Manuals etc.

üDeployment of
modern information and communication technologies that will enable real-time
communication across the three offices through ICT investments.

Lot 3

Staff Capacity Building and Training: Programme/Project
Management, Financial Management, Team Building and Behavioural Change

üStaff and
Board retreats

üTrainings in
program design, implementation, evaluation,
financial development and program oversight

Lot 4

National Budget Tracking and Accountability.

Accountability on the use of public
resources for safety and security in Nigeria by reviewing and monitoring
security allocation and implementation on the 2017 national budget and
proposals for 2018 fiscal year

Lot 5

Sexual and Gender Based Violence Management

Trainings, meetings and developing
new materials on addressing Sexual and Gender based violence in Nigeria at
the demand and supply sides of law enforcement and citizens. These materials
will also take cognizance of the new trends of conflict-related sexual
violence suffered by women and girls.

Lot 6

Researchers and Experts

Technical and experienced
Researchers and Experts in the following areas:

-Public Safety
and Security

-Election
Management

-Transparency
and Accountability

-Accessible
Justice and Rule of law.

-Public Enlightenment
and Campaign

Lot 7

Programme Monitoring and Evaluation

üProgramme quality assurance and
strengthening.

üM & E training of staff and partners.

Lot 8

Financial Audit and Investigation.

Completed
financial Audit leading to a set of identified Operations and institutional
strengthening priorities for subsequent years’ focus and investment.

Creating high
level transaction evidence and assurance.

Lot 9

Office Stationeries and Computer consumables and
Accessories.

Establishing a database for Suppliers and
building effective procurement process and accountability.

Thursday, 16 November 2017

The
cycle and integrity of elections are critical to the democratic process that
any perceived or real threat to elections is often interpreted as a threat to
the sustenance of democracy. Since Nigeria's return to democratic rule in 1999,
elections had been characterised by security and administration challenges,
resulting in discredited outcomes and associated cases of off-cycle elections.
The November 18, 2017 governorship election in Anambra state is the latest in
the list of off-cycle elections in Nigeria. The elections will take place in a
largely tensed atmosphere, shaped by the resurgence of Biafra separatist
agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), large number of political
contestants, huge deployment of state security forces, influence of godfather
politics, prevalence of cultism, and proliferation of arms, among other
factors.

It
is against this backdrop that CLEEN Foundation embarked on an assessment of elections security threat to the November 2017 governorship election in
Anambra State. The study examined the real and
potential election security threats in the state, focusing on each of the three
senatorial districts. It adopted a mixed-methodology, involving both
qualitative and quantitative research methods, to generate vital information on
the nature and extent of threats to the November 18 elections.

The report
identified some critical actors whose conduct could undermine the peaceful
conduct of elections in the state. These include IPOB agitators, party thugs,
political parties, armed groups (Cultists), INEC officials, security agents,
judiciary, media, traditional institutions, vigilante groups, and CSOs. The way
and manner these actors behave before, during and after the elections could
constitute election security threats. The findings of the quantitative survey
revealed that the activities of IPOB agitators constitute the greatest
elections security threats (70%). The study showed that the group has the
capacity to threaten the election through subtle
intimidation of voters, propaganda operations using especially social media,
and confrontation with security agents and electoral officials where there is
weak or non-existent security presence. Besides the IPOB, other actors
whose actions, inactions or misconduct could pose significant threat to the
forthcoming elections are party thugs and political parties (67%), armed groups
(61%), INEC (56%), and security agents (55%). The potentials of the conduct of
the judiciary and media to contribute to the outbreak of electoral violence
were ranked below 50%. However, there is widespread concern of possible misuse
of social media by IPOB agitators, political contestants and some aggrieved
individuals to instigate violence.

The study
further identified some communities or locations that are possible flashpoints
of electoral violence and security breaches (see Map below). Factors such as
the potency of IPOB's threat, politics of Godfatherism, allegations of
gubernatorial candidates' connections to cult groups, undue exploitation of power
of incumbency, and desperation of opposition parties to capture the state
constitute main sources of election security threats. The threat level is shaped
by factors such as high population density (especially youths), huge presence
of IPOB members, stronghold of the major political heavy weights or contestants,
and history of electoral violence. Locations considered to be chiefly at risk
are Atani, Ekwulobia, Fegge, Niger/Head Bridge (Onitsha), Nkpor, Obosi, Okija, Okpoko, Ozubulu,
Ubuluisiuzo and Uli. Places such as Abagana, Aguleri,
Agulu, Amansea, Anaocha, Aroma, Ifete, Nkwele
Ezunanka, Nnewi-Ichi, Nsugbe, Ogbunike Ajalli, Ogidi,
Okpuno, Orafite, Osumenyi, Ukpo and Umunze
are equally potential flashpoints of violence.

The study envisaged low voter turnout in
the forthcoming governorship election. Several factors could account for it.
First, is the traditional apathetic disposition of most residents of the state.
Second, is the threat by IPOB for election boycott, with promise of death for
those who vote in the election. Third, and as a corollary to the above, is the
possibility of further militarisation of the state in view of the potency of
the IPOB threat. There is also widespread
concern of possible post-election violence in the event that APGA loses
the election to APC.

RECOMMENDATIONS

In light of the major findings as
well as those common to each senatorial district, the study proffered the following
recommendations for the key stakeholders.

Federal Government:

a.Desist from deploying the military into
streets during the elections in order to avoid heightened militarisation of the
state that could exacerbate voter apathy.

b.Develop a robust strategy for rapid
deployment of the military to flashpoints of violence, to be activated only when
and where there is serious security breaches that overwhelm the capacity of the
police.

c.Task
the Ministry of Information to collaborate with the National Orientation Agency,
INEC and DSS to create a formidable
influence operation team (IOT) that could proactively counter IPOB's propaganda,
or hate speeches by desperate politicians and faceless individuals during the
election period.

Anambra State
Government:

a.Leverage Anambra Broadcasting Service to
heighten the synergy between the media and security agencies in the state to
address people's concerns about securitisation and militarisation of the state.

b.Encourage religious leaders, Town Union
executives and community leaders to mobilise their people to vote in peaceful
manner and assist in disseminating credible electoral information at the
grassroots.

c.Sustain public enlightenment programmes
through town hall meetings, radio, television and social media on the dangers
of youth involvement in cultism and consumption of hard-drugs to mitigate their
consequences for the elections.

For
Security Agencies:

a.Implement robust and
'right-sized' deployment of security agents and intelligence operatives across
the 21 LGAs to ensure efficient security provisioning before, during and after
the election. This will ensure that the right size of security forces are
deployed for the right mission.

b.Establish a Special Inter-Agency
Monitoring Team that will commence and sustain active patrolling of the roads
in the state to appropriately deal with corrupt and overzealous security agents
who are taking advantage of the huge force deployment to engage in the
molestation, maltreatment and extortion of people.

c.Properly publicise non-classified
aspects of security arrangements for the election to boost the confidence of
the people to come out and vote. In partnership with the political parties,
media and CSOs, they can agree that carrying a Voters Card will be the only
acceptable means of identification for moving about during the voting hours. Exception
would be made for those on essential duties.

d.Establish a special committee with
representatives of political parties, CSOs and traditional leaders to conduct
transparent demobilisation of vigilante groups and other informal policing
outfits. Involving other diverse stakeholders will give credibility to the
exercise and boost the confidence of opposition parties that are doubtful of
past exercises.

e.Leverage the findings
of this study and others that have provided evidence-based insights on
potentials security flashpoints to evolve or fine-tune security incident
response plan for the elections.

f.Maintain professional
conduct in the discharge of their responsibility, especially when conducting
stop-and-search operations, handling of suspects, management of crowd and
dispersals of illegal gathering during the election.

g.Sustain active and visible patrolling of
all vulnerable streets and spots while the election is on, especially in areas
with large students and youth population.

h.Create toll-free lines for timely
reporting and response to incidents that could undermine peace and security
before, during and shortly after elections.

For
INEC:

a.Ensure early
distribution of non-sensitive materials to all LGA headquarters, and make
adequate preparation to deliver all other materials promptly on the election day
for timely commencement of voting.

b.Emplace a special social media team
(SSMT) that would constantly scan the social media horizon to counter false
allegations or rumours that could undermine the legitimacy of the electoral
process. The team would equally serve as a platform for entertaining complaints
from the public as well as giving real-time update on the progress of the
elections.

c.Provide and
appropriately communicate to all stakeholders its platform for ensuring
transparent counting, collation and announcement of results.

d.Ensure that the posting of electoral
officials is done a night to the election. This will ensure politicians do not
get to know which electoral officer would work in any polling unit.

e.Capture the biometrics of all ad hoc
staff during training and their identity confirmed on the day of election to
ensure that only trained ad hoc staff work on the day of election.

For
Political Parties:

a. Develop and sign Peace Commitment Charter (PCC).
Through the Charter, the parties and their candidates would sign to abide by the
provisions of the electoral law, desist from using political thugs, and shun
hate and provocative speeches that could trigger electoral violence.

b. Adequately train their party agents to understand their rights and responsibilities in
order to avoid acts that could compromise INEC officials or the electoral
process.

For
CSOs and Media:

a.Partner
with the INEC and political parties to continuously and properly educate the people as well as counter misinformation, falsehood
and incitation that are capable of dissuading people from voting or triggering
violence.

b.Deepen collaboration with INEC and
security agencies in area of security information sharing and voter education.

c.Continue to monitor and provide
impartial report on the entire electoral process to help protect the integrity
of the elections.

d.Conduct security awareness and
sensitisation programme to encourage healthy relation between the people and
state security forces.